William h



W. H. SMITH.

GATE.

No. 447,374. Patented Mar. 3,'1891.

Orff

ITU/em UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. SMITH, OF PORT LAVACA, TEXAS.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,374, dated March 3, 14891.

Application led June 9, 1890. Serial No. 354,853. o model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

p Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port Lavaca, in the county of Calhoun, in the State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Suspended Roller-Gates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of self-closing roller-gates, by which greater simplicity is attained and the operation of the gate is much facilitated.

The gate is astructure hanging and sliding by means of rollers on an inclined cross-bar, and so connected by ropes and pulleys to stationary posts that a person approaching it on horseback or in a vehicle may easily open the gate (without dismounting) by pulling the rope, and on releasing the rope the gate will close automatically.

The drawing is a perspective view of the gate. A

In the specification similar letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin-the drawing.

A represents the ground, in which the posts b', b2, b3, b4, and b5 are firmly driven. Posts Y b4, b5, and b2 have the inclined cross-bar c (which may be either of round or fiat bariron) secured to them, as shown. The bar is bent at either end to such an angle as may be required by the inclination of said bar. The ends are let in and riveted or boltedv to posts b4 and b2, and the center of the bar is supported by post b5 and secured thereon by a staple y. The posts are so located that if connected by lines they would form a square, rhomboid, or diamond, according to the requirements of the traffic passing through the gate, with post b5 in the center of the same.

The gate proper consists, essentially, of two uprights d d', to which the rollers d2 cl3 are fastened and secured on the cross-bar by means of pins g. The rope or chain i is fastened to one end of the gate and passes through the double pulley f on the post b2, and yalso th rough the hanging (single) pulleys o of posts b and b3. To the other end of the gate is attached the rope inpassing over a pulley in post b4 and carrying the weight k. The posts b and b3 have catch-springs Z fastened on them to hold the rope t' att-ached to the gate and keep the same opened any desi red length of time.

Then the rope is drawn hanging rollers of the gate are running and 4 also by the Weight k. It will be observed that the pull-rope is arranged in a bisected triangle with its ends terminatingin upright d. The upright d has a part cut out of its foot end to clear the axle and hub of any carriage passing through, so that the axle cannot strike the gate and possiblybreak it. In the foot end of the posts b4 and b5 are driven right-angled guards m and fn, in which the lower end of the gate slides to guard against stock or wind swinging the gate.

The operation of the gate is as follows: By reference to the drawing it will be seen thata person desiring to pass the gate and approaching it from the direction of post b takes hold of that part of the rope forming the base of the bisected triangle, pulls it and holds it until the gate is passed. The pull on the rope will react on the pulley on post b', also on one of the pulleys f on post b2, and finally on the terminalv in upright d2. By these means the gate opens in the direction of the double pulley on post b2, and will close itself by means of gravitation as soon as the person releases the rope. Vhen it is desirable that the gate should be kept open long enough for a wagon-train or a herd of cattle to pass through, a person in the lead opens the gate and secures it in that position by fastening the rope under the catch-spring, and a person in the rear, after passing the gate, pulls the rope from underneath the catch-spring and thegate will close, as heretofore described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination, with a gate suspended on anvinclined track c, of a single pull-rope passing around suitable pulleys on posts b', b2,

and b3 and secured at both ends to the inner upright d of the gate, so as to form a bisected triangle, and catch-springs Z on the front of the posts b and b3, substantially as shown and described.

p VILLIAM H. SMITH.

Witnesses:

GEO. O. v. ROEDERN, GEO. WASSERMANN, Jr. 

